As the 2013 legislative session winds down speeds to the finish line, what will lawmakers decide about public education? Lots of unanswered questions remain as a conference committee works down to the wire to decide the 2013-15 budget and several bills could see final votes this week.

Two bills affecting statewide charter school policy[3] are in conference committee this week. HB 250 would allow charter schools to expand without having to gain approval from the State Board of Education, while SB 337 could weaken requirements for hiring certified teachers and having a racially diverse student population.

The Senate budget includes $5.1 million for the Teach for America program, whereas the House budget would provide $3.1 million to reinstate the Teaching Fellows program[7].

Teacher assistants

Teacher assistants have a huge impact in K-3 classrooms across the state[8]. The Senate budget proposal takes a much bigger chunk out of the teacher assistant budget than does the House proposal, cutting some 4,580 jobs across the state. Keep in mind that many districts convert the teacher assistant funds into salaries for teachers as well.